Science Ministry Orders All Organizations to Submit Export Data Linked to R&D

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has directed all organizations under its administrative control to provide data on export enhancement achieved through Research and Development (R&D) activities. The directive was issued following a recent sectoral reforms meeting chaired by the Secretary of MoST. Organizations are required to submit this data regardless of whether their R&D interventions were direct or indirect. The Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), operating under the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), has been tasked with collecting and consolidating this information. PASTIC has been designated as the central repository for science and technology data in accordance with the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2022. The move is aimed at improving accessibility to technological information and facilitating informed policy decisions. Organizations are instructed to complete a specific data proforma detailing product names, unit prices, quantities exported, and export values in both USD and PKR. Additionally, they must indicate the nature of the organization’s R&D involvement. The form accommodates data for up to 11 products per organization and must be submitted by April 28, 2025. Dr. Syed Aftab Hussain Shah, Additional Director of the Technology Information Services Section at PASTIC, has been assigned as the focal person to collect and coordinate submissions. He can be contacted via the provided email and phone number to address any queries or facilitate the submission process. The data will be compiled and forwarded to the Ministry for further analysis. The directive has been officially communicated by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram Shaikh, Director General of PASTIC. Copies of the correspondence have also been sent to the Secretary MoST, the Joint Scientific Adviser, and the Member Science of PSF. The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has been specifically addressed in the communication, signaling the importance of engineering contributions to national export goals.